How life has changed in Cotswold

Cotswold's population increased by about 2,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 83,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Cotswold increased by 3.1%, from just under 80,400 to 82,900.

The addition of about 2,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cotswold was home to, on average, 0.51 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South West's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cotswold

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cotswold increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 14.0% of people in Cotswold are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cotswold by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Cotswold

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Cotswold, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.0 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 24.7% of respondents in Cotswold said they had no religion, up from 13.7% in 2001.

Across the South West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.5% to 32.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 74.1% of respondents in Cotswold said they were Christian, down from 85.4% in 2001. About 0.4% said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from 0.3% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Cotswold increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South West and Cotswold by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Cotswold

The proportion of married people fell in Cotswold, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except South Gloucestershire.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53.2% to 49.1%.

During this period, Cotswold overtook Isles of Scilly, Dorset and South Gloucestershire to become the South West local authority area with the highest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Cotswold, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Exeter.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.4% to 10.1%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Cotswold that rented privately increased from 11.9% to 15.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.9%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14.2% in 2001. The percentage of Cotswold households that owned their home decreased from 68.2% to 65.7%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 17.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Cotswold increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cotswold, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Cotswold, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Cornwall and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 8.5% to 5.1%.

Across the South West, the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell from 8.5% to 5.1% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Tewkesbury (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Cotswold) fell from 7.0% to 4.3%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Cotswold decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Cotswold, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Cotswold residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Cotswold remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cotswold by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Cotswold

The percentage of Cotswold residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.4% to 7.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage of Cotswold residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.4% to 89.4%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Cotswold working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16.8% to 13.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13.3% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Cotswold decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cotswold, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in Cotswold without children increased from 65.5% to 67.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (24.6%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cotswold with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.2% to 8.1%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 63.8% in 2001 to 64.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Cotswold residents that were self-employed increased from 14.3% to 16.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52.3% in 2001. The percentage of Cotswold residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.5%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 10.0% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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